La Muralla Roja

La Muralla Roja is an apartment complex set on the rocks in the coastal town of Calpe, Spain. it was designed by Ricardo Bofill and built in 1973. it is, as you can see, highly Instagrammable – see many more photos here.

La Muralla Roja (The Red Wall) embodies a clear reference to the popular architecture of the Arab Mediterranean, in particular to the adobe towers of North Africa. The Red Wall is like a fortress, which marks a vertical silhouette following the contour lines of the rocky cliff. RBTA wanted to break the post-Renaissance division between public and private spaces, reinterpreting the Mediterranean tradition of the Kasbah. The labyrinth of this recreated Kasbah corresponds to a precise geometric plan, based on the typology of the Greek Cross – with arms 5 meters long, with service towers (kitchens and bathrooms) at their point of intersection. The forms of the building, evoking a constructivist aesthetic, create an ensemble of interconnected patios which provide access to the 50 apartments. On the roof terraces there are solariums, a swimming pool, and sauna for resident’s use. The exteriors are painted in various tones of red, to accentuate the contrast with the landscape. The intensity of the colours is also related to the light and shows how the combination of these elements can help create a greater illusion of space.